What lies do you believe that keep you from connecting with friends? I used to be held back from spending time with people because I was afraid of awkward silent moments. I felt like I was innately boring and wouldn't have anything interesting to talk about.

I found that one solution for this was to get together to do an activity. Working on a project together or playing a game can help make connecting easier.

Here are 7 tips to help you foster community and practice hospitality:

Practice smiling at people and looking them in the eye.

Practice making small talk. This doesn't come naturally to everyone, but it is the starting point for deeper conversations.

Don't wait until your house is perfect to invite people over for dinner. If your house is messy your guests will just feel better about their own home. You will be doing them a service.

Don't wait for someone to invite you for coffee. Take the first step.

Make a phone call or text instead of waiting for someone to call you.

When people make room for you in their lives, take it, even if it’s just hanging out with them and helping them with whatever project they are working on. That may be all the time they have available, so honor it.

In order to make meaningful connections, you must be intentional. Get out your calendar and make a plan.

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